Mythical Beings & Surreal Figures
My sketchbook is where the real and unreal collide. Here, I explore mythic forms and surreal figures, tangled with nature's patterns.
A full time-lapse of my piece "Trikaal," which personifies time through three connected figures. This is a core example of how I use human forms to explore abstract concepts like life, youth, and death.
A finished ink drawing of a figure curled up with a large, grinning skull. This piece is about the tempting and intimate relationship between life and death, a recurring theme in my work.
A surreal winged creature with multiple eyes and a terrifying grin. My work often features these kinds of unsettling yet fascinating beings, blending human and monstrous features.
This is my interpretation of Tara, a meditative figure. Her body is a landscape of veins and her face is a single, central eye, representing an internal vision that sees beyond the physical world.
A symbolic piece titled "Natural State." It depicts a sleeping baby watched over by a giant, ancient eye, exploring themes of innocence, the unconscious, and the forces that shape us.
A surreal portrait about the state of mind. The figure's head is open, revealing a brain, while extra eyes are held like balloons, symbolizing scattered thoughts and perceptions.
A surreal self-portrait with a cyclops eye, fanged mouth, and a snake-like tongue. This is how I translate internal feelings into external forms, creating monstrous but personal figures.
About this collection
Every piece starts with a conversation about your story. I share the initial pencil sketch first, so we are on the same page before I commit to the permanent ink. It is a slow process, but I need that structure to make sure the surreal details—the multiple eyes, the roots, the hybrid forms—actually capture what is in your head.
My art is about the stuff that sneaks into your head and refuses to leave. Whether it is a mythic goddess with a landscape of veins or a creature that blends a human face with an owl, I am trying to map out the spaces between the real and the unreal. These drawings are personal; they often start with a simple pencil mark in my sketchbook before I start building up the ink.
How I Work
I rarely draw the same thing twice. My process is very much about building layers, usually with Micron pens and fine liners on heavy-duty paper. I focus on high-contrast black and white because it feels the most honest—no color to hide behind.
- The Concept: You tell me the story or the symbol you are chasing. Maybe it is a wolf tangled in flowers, or something darker like a skull with roots.
- The Sketch: I always draft the concept first. This is where we figure out the composition. You see the bones of the piece before I ink the final version.
- The Ink: This is the time-consuming part. I use stippling (dotwork) and cross-hatching to get those gradients and textures right. It can take 15+ hours for the really dense pieces.
Can We Work Together?
If you want a custom illustration, a tattoo design, or just a print for your wall, just reach out. I keep my process transparent. Whether you are in Bareilly or anywhere else in India, I can pack your artwork securely in a rigid tube or backing to ensure it reaches you in one piece. If you are looking for a tattoo design, I will provide a clean line-work file that you can take straight to your local tattoo artist.
Ankita Bhattacharya
I am Ankita. I let my life spill into my ink—it is usually a bit messy, bold, and wild. I draw the stuff that sneaks into your head and refuses to leave.
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